Multiposition switch



Feb. 22, 1949. J F EAL 2,462,594

MULTIPOSITION SWITCH Filed June 19, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet l Maven-11MLJ'A'Mzs F. B EAI..

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Feb 22, 1949. J. F. BEAL MULTIPOSITION SWITCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJune 19, 1945 INVENTok JAMES F. BEM... BY 9 ATTORNEY.

Feb. 22, 1949. J'. F. BEAL 2,462,594

MULTIPOS ITION SWITCH Filed June 19, 1945 5 sheets-sheet s 94 TF1 SA FiE.

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INVENTOP\ JAMES F. BEM...

ATTORNEY- Feb. 22, 1949. J. F. BEAL 2,462,594

MULTIPOSITION SWITCH Filed June 19, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 lwm'rok JAMESF. BEAL..

ATTOQNEY.

Feb. 22, 1949. J. F. BEAL 2,462,594

IULTIPOSITION SWITCH YFiled June 19. 1945 s sheets-sheet s `SIM LOW

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JAMES E BEAL.

AT TO KN E Y.

Patented Feb. 22, 1949 ori-ICE MULTIPOSITION SWITCH James F. Beal,Renfrew, Ontario,

Canada, as-

signor to Renfrew Electric & Refrigerator Company Limited, Renfrew,Ontario,

poration of Canada Canada, a cor- Application June 19, 1945, serial No.v600,338

(ci. zee t) 9 Claims. e 1

This invention relates to multiposition switches and has more particularreference to switches of this character for controlling the ow ofelectrical energy to electric stoves, heaters and like appliances andapparatus.

In the art of electric heating apparatus, especially where stoves,ranges, water heaters, room heaters and the like are concerned, it ishighly desirable as well as economical to so regulate and control thecurrent supply to such apparatus' that rates of heating of a wide rangemay be readily and conveniently obtained.

It is one of the objects of the present invention therefore to provide aswitch of this character wherein the design is substantially universalin nature and one that may be employed in single pole or double polecircuits with either two Wire or three wire supply.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a switchof thischaracter that is safe, small and compact in form and wherein a singleoperating means selectively operates to control the flow of electricalenergy to one or more of a multiplicity of circuits through the heatingeiement or load unit. l

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which is capable of4 a wide range of different heat controlsby interchangeable registrations or positionments.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of thischaracter wherein a basically independent and full-oating unit isprovided. for the registration or positioning of the switch operatingmechanism. l

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a switch ofthis character which includes a pilot light and pilot light circuitwholly within the switch structure and wherein the pilot light isenergized only during actual circuit closure on each and all of theseveral heats.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a switch ofthis character wherein the simple' rearrangement or substitution ofparts, rather than the addition of parts in appreciable number, enablesthe device to be adapted to (i) the control of different types ofheating elements including different circuit arrangements, (2) differentnumbers of heats, and (3) different physical elements.

Another and further object-of the present invention is to provide adevice of this character which may conveniently be mounted on the front,side, splash shield or other appropriate part of a range or otherheating appliance.

Having regard to the foregoing and other objects and advantages whichwill become apparent as the description proceeds and the details and theoperationof the switch become known and understood. the inventionconsistsl essentially in I illustrations, the letter the novelcombination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described in detail andillustrated in thei accompanying drawings in which;

Fig. l is a front elevational View of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational View of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. i is a frontelevationa. view of the present invention with the switch handle, pilotlight shield, pilot light bulb and front switch cover removed.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5 oi Fig. i with the rear covermember also removed.

Fig. 6 is a rear elevational view of the present device with the rearcover member removed.

Fig. 7 is a front elevational View ci the present invention with theswitch handle, front cover, center post, registration unit 0andinsulating shield removed.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line E E oi Fig. '7 with the rear covermember also removed.

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 7.

`Fig. 9A. is an elevational View the inside of the rear cover member.

Fig. l0 is a front end view of the rotorT shown in detached form.

Fig. il is a side View of Fig. 5.53.

Fig. l2 is a iront end View or the switch center post shown in detachedform.

Fig. i3 is a side view of Fig'. l2.

Fig. l.- is an elevational view oi the insulating shield.

Fig. i5 is an end view of Fig.

Fig. 16 is a perspective View oi the fuli-ioating registration unitassembly shown in detached form with registration cam removed.

Fig. 17 is a schematic wiring and switch circuiting diagram showing anadaptation of the present invention to a switch having sie; cifierentoperating positions and designed to produce five different heats withthe pilot light in" eluded in the diagram.

In the accompanying drawings wherein the present invention is disclosedand wherein like letters and numerals of reference designatecorresponding parts and elements in the different A indicates the switchas a whole and the letter B the circuit controlled by the switch.

Treating first with the switch structure, the various units and elementsand their arrangement is such that through a predetermined rotativemovement oi a single operating member, circuit set-up contacts areoperatedto selectively establish predetermined circuits to permitcurrent to now therethrough to produce diierent rates of heating ortemperatures. Additionally, the same rotative movement of the operatingmember causes cooperating elements to make and break the circuitsindependent of the circuit set-.- up contacts, thus eliminating arcingat the circuit set-up contacts. Further, when a predetermined circuit isestablished and energized, a pilotv light circuit is simultaneouslyenergized, thus the pilot light is operative only during that period oftime when power is being consumed by the load.

Referring now to the structural details, the housing, casing or switchbody is designated by the numeral |5 and is composed of insulatingmaterial possessing high dielectric and heat-resistant properties and isadapted to house and support the various operating units, elements,connections and tments. The housing is provided with closed side,top'and bottom walls and formed with open front and rear walls and whilea partition or dividing wall |8 is disposed substantially midway of thehousing thus forming spaced front and rear compartments I9 and 20 withinthe housing. Front and rear cover memmay take the form of a single unitin molded form.

As illustrated then the rotor member is designated by the numeral and isof moulded, heat resistant insulating material and in structure includesa shoulder 26 which engages recess 24 and a hub or shaft like bodymember 21 having a central bore 28 extending therethrough. The

front end of the bore may be of square or other non-circular formation,as indicated at 29, and extends part way therethrough while theremaining portion of the bore is cylindrical in form` as indicated at30. Formed integral with the hub 21 is a disc member 3| vwhile disposedon opposite sides of the disc and in spaced relationship there- ,to areshoulder members 32 and 33. The shoulder member 32 is designed tomaintain the annular rotor ring contact 34 against the outer face of thedisc3|' while the shoulder 33 is adapted to maintain the annular rotorring contact 35 against the opposite -face of the disc member 3|.

The contact rings 34 and 35 observed in Figs. '1

land 10 may each be provided with one or more integral tongues 36 whichextend outwardly from the ring proper. The interior of each contact ringis formed with a non-circular portion 31 and such portion is adapted toengage the noncircula-r portions 33 ofvmembers 32 and 33, thus when thecontact rings are mounted on the hub with the non-circular portions 31and 38 in en' gagement, one with the other, and the rotor 25 operated,the contact rings 34 and 35 will move therewith.

The centerpost 39 upon which the rotor 25 is mounted (see Figs.- 3 and13) comprises a shaft 40 of heat-resistant insulating material with orwithout a metallic switch handle receiving sleeve 4| xedly connectedthereto. As more clearly observed in Fig. 13, the inner portion of theshaft 40 is provided with a square or non-circular section 42 and acylindrical section 43. Extending outwardly from section 43 is a reducedportion 44 the inner part of which is also of square or othernon-circular formation as indicated at 45 while the outer extremity ofthe reduced portion is cylindrical in form as indicated at 46 in orderthat it may extend through a center opening 22a in the rear cover member22. A center bore 41 extends through shaft 40 and communicates with thepilot light lamp receiving cavity or socket 48, while a lateral opening48a communicates with the center bore. Opening 48a is provided for theaccommodation of a conductor or lead from the light source which will belater referred to. Longitudinal recesses 49 are provided in the switchhandle receiving member 4| to key the switch handle to the center postwhile a protruding flange 58 formed integral with the metallic sleeve isprovided to maintain and secure the position of the center post 39 inthe switch housing. From the foregoing it will be seen thatcomplementary non-circular formations 29 and 4.2 and comple mentarycircular formations 30 and 43 enable the rotor 25 to snugly fit thecenter post 39 upon which it is mounted, so that the members 25 and 39,generally indicated in assembly form at 5|, are rotatable as a unit.

For purposes of effecting the registrative movement of the unit 5| Iprovide cam means which is best observed in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The cammeans comprises a disc type cam member 52 formed with a non-circularcenter opening 54. The cam is adapted to be mounted on the noncircularsection 42 of the shaft 48, and is therefore rotatable with the unit 5|.

Byreference to Fig. 4 it will be observed that the cam member 52 isprovided with a series of equidistantly spaced angular cam surfaces,each such surface representing a registration point or limit of therelative rotative movement of -the unit 5f by the switch operatinghandle between switch positions. In the present instance, and forpurposes of illustration, the cam member 52 is shown as hexagonal inform and as such will afford six different registrative positions. It isto be clearly understood however that such illustration does not implyrestriction since other multiple surfaces such` as square, pentagonal,octagonal,V etc., affording different numbers of registrative positions,may be employed without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention.

Positioned in the front compartment I9 and disposed directly in front ofthe rotor 25 is a centrally apertured shield 51 of insulating material,while arranged between the insulating shield and the front cover member2| is the substantially full-floating registration unit 58 which isdesigned to position and regulate the movement of the rotor assembly 5|as controlled by registration of the cam 52.

As more particularly exemplified in Figs. 4 and 16, the unit 58comprises a skeleton-like frame 59 upon which bar members 60 and 6| areslidably movable. Each end of the bar members are provided with a recess62 which enable them to straddle the frame while the inner or adjacentfaces of each bar member is provided with a longitudinal recess 63 forthe reception of cam 52. Cut-outs 64 in the frame 59 enable the barmembers to be assembled or removed as circumstances may require. Mountedbetween the inside of the frame 59 and the outside faces of the barmembers 60 and 6| are coil springs 65, the springs being retained inoperative position by means of inwardly projecting tongues on the frameand annular recesses in the bar members. The purpose of the coil springsjust referred to is to urge the bar members one toward the other andinto engagement with the surfaces of the cam member 52, thus regulatingthe self-positioning. of cam member 52 and maintaining it in a definitepredetermined registrative position.

By reference to Fig. 4 it will be observed that in outline the unitassembly 58 'conforms substantially with the general outline of theinterior of the compartment I9, but more intimately with the top andbottom walls than with the side walls. Thus the frame as a whole issupported by the compartment and restrained against rotative movement bythe top and bottom walls, While free to shift slightly laterally inorder to compensate for unbalance of effort as may be afforded bydifferences in springs 65.

The pilot lamp or light source indicated at 66 is mounted wholly withinthe switch unit and is carried by the portion 48 of the center post 38.Enclosure means for the light source comprises a protecting sheath orenvelope 61 of transparent material which protrudes outwardly from theswitch handle receiving. member 4l in enveloping form and is connectedto the rotor assembly by suitable and appropriate fitting and lockingmeans.

For operative purposes the switch is provided with an operating handlewhich is designated by the numeral 10. The operating handle may be ofthe push-on or other appropriate type and is provided at its outer endwith an opening 1| to receive a conforming end portion of thetransparent sheath 81. With this form of structure light from the source66 is therefore made visible at and externally of the switch operatinghandle. In addition to the foregoing a raised portion or the like 12 isprovided on the switch operating handle as a means for indicating thediierent switch positionments.

By reference to Figs. 3, and 6 it will be seen that the rear compartment20 is provided with movable arcing contact arms or brushes 14 and 15.These brushes are of resilient material and are mounted in operativerelation to the cam members later referred to. One end of each of themembers 14 and 15 is xedly. secured to an appropriate part such as theup-turned portions of terminals 16 and 11 respectively 'while theopposite or free ends thereof are provided with suitable arcing contacts18 and 19. A companion pair of arcing contacts 80 and 8| are mounted onintegral portions of terminals 83 and 84. From the foregoing it will 80and 8| are stationary while resilient arms 14 and 15 carrying contacts18 and 19 are movable, the movable arms normally maintaining theircontacts in spaced relationship to their companion arcing contacts.

As previously mentioned, the resilient members 14 and 15 are operated bycam means. This cam means comprises a pair of cam members 82 and 82a ofdisc-like form each provided with a non-circular opening 85 and betweenwhich I interpose a spacer member 86 with similar noncircular opening.These cam members and the spacer disc are mounted upon the non-circularportion 44 of the shaft 40 and are thus rotatable with the unit 5 I.

Arranged around the outer periphery of the members 82 and 82a are aseries of projections or cam points 81, the cam 82 carrying a series ofve cam points and the cam 82a carrying a series o! two such points. Itis then these projections be clear that contacts conductively connectedor cam points 81 which engage the bossegl raised portions 88 of theresilient members 14 and 15 and causes these resilient members to movetheir contacts into circuit closing position upon rotative movement ofthe unit 5|. The bosses or raised portions 88 of the members 14 and 15are arranged in staggered relationship to one another so that while thecams are arranged closely to one another, they operate the respectiveresilient arms without interfering one with the other. From theforegoing it will be apparent that as the switch is operated torotatably move the unit 5|, the points 81 determine the time andsequence of movements of members 14 and 15 for moving arcing contacts 18and 19 into and out of contact engagement with arcing contacts and 8|.

For purposes of establishing different circuits through the medium ofthe several contacts carried by the rotor 25, I provide a series ofconductor members and brushes. As illustrated in Figs. 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and17, rotor wiper contacts 90 and 9| are fixedly mounted in the housing orcasing l5 and are in constant but independent contact with the rotorrings 34 and 35 respectively. These rotor wiper contacts or brushes,through rivets or like means, are ilxedly and to terminal members 82 and94 respectively in the upper and lower sections of the rear of housingl5.

In addition to the foregoing a further set of rotor engaging contacts85, 96, 98 and l0! are disposed in such a manner in the housing thatthey are free of constant contact with the rotor ring contacts 34 and 35vbut are engageable by the tongues 36 of what may be termed outer andinner or upper and lower level rotor ring contacts 34 and 35 asdetermined by the rotative movement of the rotor 25. These rotorcontacts also xedly mounted in the housing and conductively connected toterminals 11, 84, 18 and 82 respectively.

In further relation to the aforementioned rotor contacts and rotor wipercontacts, it is pointed out that rotor contact |0| is mounted inconductive connection with rotor wiper 9|) and terminal 92. Contact Ilis designed to be contacted by the tongue 36 of the outer or upper level"otor ring contact 34 as determined by the rotative movement of the unit5| as already mentioned. Here it can well be mentioned that the switchterminals herein illustrated are .of substantially standard form andeach provided with conventional lugs, iitments, terminal screws or theequivalent through which means the line and load leads are connected.

From what has thus far been described with respect to the rotor contactand wiper contact arrangement, it will be observed that the variousrotor and wiper contacts are conductively connected through terminals83, 84 and 94 with the supply or line leads while terminals 1.5, 11 and92 connect the load leads to establish circuits upon operation of theswitch as will -be later described.

By referring now to Figs. 2 and 9 it will be seen that conductor member|03 is mounted externally upon the rear cover 22, such member beingdesigned to be conductively connected to terminal 94 when the rear coveris in assembled position on the housing. The conductor |03 is providedwith an indent or depression |04 which registers with the opening 22a inthe rear cover member 22 and the end of the center bore 41 of the centerpost 39 and is designed to contact the terminal end of lead |05 of thelight source 66. Lead |06 from the light source extends through centerbore 81 and lateral opening d8a of shaft portion 44 where it engages ametallic spacer and contact washer |01 which in turn conductivelycontacts), the ring portion of contact |08 mounted interiorly upon therear cover.

As observed in Figs. 9 and 1'7, one or. more ballast resistors |09 areinterposed in the light source circuit and as desired are assembled inone or both of the housing openings or wells HD and The wells ||ll andIliare open to both sides of the partition wall of the housing andtherefore one end of the ballast resistor |053 is conductively connectedto contact |08 when the rear cover 22 is in position while the opposingend of the ballast resistor IUS is conductively connected to rotorcontact 98. From the foregoing it will be seen that as the rotor contact98 is conductlvely connected with load terminal I6 and such loadterminal is energized at all on positions of the switch, the pilot lightcircuit is energized at all on positions of the switch and always at thesame potential.

In certain circuit arrangements no single rotor contact member isenergized at all on positions of the switch as is the case with rotorcontact member 95 in the circuit presently shown. In requiredcircumstances however a second or additional ballast resistor |09 may beprovided in companion well iii. This second or additional ballastresistor is then conductively connected in circuit between rear covercontact member |08 and extension ||2 of rotor `Contact 95 (see Fig. 7).With this type of arrangement the two ballast resistors |09 areconnected in series and may be across the line potential at certain onposition of the switch where the circuiting conditions might require thesimultaneous closure of both arcing contact members or brushes 'Hl and15.

The circuit schematically shown in Fig. 17 is designed to illustrate oneembodiment of the present invention with the dierent relative positionsof the mechanism operated to establish i-lve heats and six positions. Itwill be understood however that such schematic showing is illustrativerather than restrictive since modication may be made within the spiritand scope of the invention and the circuit illustrated.

Proceeding now with a description of the switch and circuit hook-up,reference is made to Fig. 17.' In this illustration the load or heaterelement is represented as being composed of two sections which aredesignated by the numerals ||3 and H4, each such section beingindividually suitable for operation at the maximum potential differenceavailable'from three-wire supply line leads.

The three wire sources of supply illustrated represents, for example,230 volts between outside or positive and negative conductors andapproximately half that value of potential difierence between eitheroutside or positive or negative conductors and the grounded neutralconductor.

For purposes of convenient reference Fig. 17 exemplifies the sixdifferent circuiting conditions that exist in my switch to produce thefive different heats, i. e., simmer, low, low medium, medium" and high,when used with the above described heater element or load and connectedfor power supply with a three wire source as above mentioned. p

At the top or uppermost portion of Fig. 17 I have illustrated the "oiposition circuiting wherein it will be found that all the current pathsof travel through the switch from outside or positive and negative lineconductors to the load are open at one point or another by reason of thefact that circuit closing contact parts therein are separated.

In the following, I shall describe the sequence of movements of theswitch handle 'lil in a counter-clockwise direction in order toconveniently follow the illustrations of Fig. 17. It will be understoodhowever that the sequence of movements of handle l may be clockwise orcounter-clockwise at any point in circuit establishment to produce thenext successive `heat or to resume the oi position.

Immediately below the oi position then I illustrate the fth or lowestcircuiting heat condition, termed simmer. At this heat or with theswitch handle rotated to the simmer position, the circuit through theswitch will follow from the positive conductor of the three-wire supplythrough conductor |65 to terminal 83, thence through resilient contactarm it, terminal i6, conductor i |8, load sections or resistances i iand H3 in series connection, conductor H9, terminal 92, rotor contactIl, rotor ring contact S13, rotor wiper contact 9|, neutral connectingstud and terminal 9G and nally through conductor H6 to the groundedneutral conductor of the power supply circuit. This circuiting providessubstantially half maximum line potential or say volts potentialdifference across the seriesed load resistances H3 and ||li. Thiscircuiting then produces the minimum degree of heat available over thefive different heat positions by reason of the fact that the resistancesections of the heating element or load are in series and present themaximum resistance available from such sections and they in turn areenergized at a minimum potential diierence available from the three wiresupply line.

The low heat circuiting condition is indicated just below the simmercondition so that by turning the switch handle further in acounterclockwise direction, a fourth or low heat is provided. i At thisheat the circuit through the switch follows through the positive linewire to conductor H5, terminal 83, arm "it, terminal 76, conductor ||8and load resistance H4. From resistance lili the circuit is thencompleted through conductor |20, terminal 11, rotor contact S5, rotorring contact 34, rotor wiper lcontact 9|, terminal 94 and conductor IIGto the grounded neutral of the three wire supply line. In the switchposition of low, only one resistance or load section is across one halfthe line potential or say 115 volts.

The next switch circuiting condition is illustrated just beneath the"lowcondition and is obtained by the further counter-clockwise rotation ofthe switch handle to the third or low medium heat. At this heat thecircuit through the switch is from the positive line wire to conductorH5, terminal 83, arm 14, terminal '|6, conductor ||8 and loadresistances ||4 and ||3 in series. The circuit completion is thencethrough conductor ||9, terminal 92, rotor wiper contact 90, rotor ringcontact 35, tongue 3B, rotor contact 96, terminal 84 and conductor ||1to the negative line of the three wire supply source. In this switchcircuiting condition both resistance or load sections are in seriesacross the maximum line potential of 230 volts.

From the low medium switch position, counter-clockwise rotation of theswitch handle provides a second or "medium the circuiting for this heatis ately below the low medium circuiting. In this heat, the circuitthrough the switch is from the positive line wire through conductor H5,terminal 83, arm 14, terminal 18 and conductor 8 to one end of the loadresistance ||4. From the other end of resistance 4 the path is throughconductor |20, terminal arm 15, terminal 84 and conductor ||1 to thenegative line of the supply circuit. In this switch circuitingcondition, only one load section or resistance is connected across themaximum line potential of 230 volts.

The ilrst or high" heat circuiting condition of the switch appears atthe bottom of the diagram and further counter-clockwise rotation of theswitch handle produces the high heat condition. In this heat thecircuiting through the switch is from the positive line wire throughconductor |I5, terminal 83 and arm 14 to terminal 18 where the circuitdivides into parallel paths. One of these paths is through the conductori8 to the outside end of load resistance section 4 while the other pathis through rotor contact 98, tongue 36, rotor ring contact 35, rotorwiper contact 80 and thence through terminal 82 and conductor I9 to theoutside end of resistance or load section ||3. This circuitingarrangement through the switch places positive line potential on bothoutside ends of the load sections ||3 and ||4 and since the oppositeends of the load sections are common, they are afforded a common returnto the negative line wire over conductor |28, terminal 11, and arm 15 byway of terminal conductor 84 and conductor ||1. In this switch positionit is observed that both resistance or load sections H3 and i I4 are inparallel across the maximum line potential of 230 volts.

Upon further counter-clockwise rotation of the handle the switch isrestored to the off position and in the orf position all circuitestablishing means are again in open load position at one point oranother. From what has been said it will be clear` thatcounter-clockwise rotation of handle 10 from off through the severalheats to off again, produces various heat values in ascending order.Conversely, clockwise rotation of the handle 10- from off through theeveral heats to off again, produces heat values in descending order.

During the operation of the switch to produce different heat conditions,contacts that function as arcing" and non-arcing contacts always operatein a definite sequence, that is to say, in all positions of the switchnon-arcing contacts always "make prior to the arcing contacts beingclosed and the arcing contacts always open or break prior to theseparation or "break of the non-arcing contacts.

For purposes of describing the "arcing and "non-arcing more in detail Irefer now to Figs. 1 and 7 from which it will be observed the followingsequence of operations occur. Rotativo movement of the handle 10 in aclockwise direction will move tongue 36 of rotor ring contact 35approximately thirty-live degrees frcm zero or "oiT position. At thisstage the tongue 36 will commence to engage contact 98 as a preliminaryheat condition and illustrated immedistep in setting up the non-arcinghigh heat circuiting condition. As rotative movement progresses (seeFig. 6), the cam members 82 and 82a are simultaneously advanced until ata point approximately fty degrees from zero the imm cam points 81 of cammembers 82 and heat circuiting `and further rotative movement isrequired to move the tongue 38 out of contact with contact 98 to thenext phase of operation,

From the foregoing it is manifest that the load circuit is rst set-up bythe closure of the nonarcing contacts and then completed by the closureof one or both arcing contacts as the case may be. In successive orderthe completed circuit is zst "broken by the arcing contacts after whichthe non-arcing contacts are moved to break the preliminary circuitset-up. The same sequence of operations follow throughout in theoperation of the switch, the only difference being that differentcontact elements are disposed in different positions over a range ofthreehundred and sixty degrees in order to obtain the ve heat sixposition operation within the radius of a circle.

Reference is now made to the pilot light circuit. In this circuit thepilot light or light source 66 is energized only while closed circuitconditions exist at any heat. In every "heat position therefore positiveline conductor potential is fed over conductor 5 to terminal 84 and byway of arm 'I4 to terminal 16. Thus as rotor Contact 98 is permanentlyand conductively connected to terminal 16, rotor contact 98 carriespositive potential at every heat or on position of the switch.

The circuit through the pilot light then is by way of rotor contact 98,ballast resistor |09, through contact |88 on the inside of rear cover 22and metallic spacer and contact Washer |81, lead |08 to the light source66. From the light source 3S the path is through lead |05, contact |04and conductor |03 exteriorly of the rear cover to terminal 94 and thenceover conductor ||6 to the neutral conductor of the three wire supplyline.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the lnvention is characterizedby its novelty, simplicity to be embraced therein.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a multi-position switch. an insulated support memberprovided witha series of xed conin different planes, a movable insulated memberprovided with a series of spaced contacts arranged in different planesand selectively movable planes to establish a series of different loadcircuits, registrative means for indicating the different circuitestablishing positions of the movable member and means for maintainingconstant contact between at least one pair of the xed contacts andmovable contacts.

2. In a multi-position switch, a stationary insulated support providedwith a series of fixed contacts arranged in different planes, a movableinsulated member provided with a series of spaced oppositely disposedcontacts arranged in dif ferent planes and selectively movable into andout of contact engagement with the xed contacts to establish a series ofdifferent load circuits, handle means for operating the movable member,a light device mounted within the handle for transmitting light raystherefrom and means for conducting energy to the light device onlyduring the loading or" the switch.

3. In a multi-position Switch, an insulated housing provided with aseries of xed contacts arranged in different planes, a rotor memberprovided with spaced contacts arranged in diierent planes andselectively movable into and out of contact engagement with the xedcontacts to establish a series of different load circuits, a handlemember operatively connecting the rotor, a light device carried by therotor for transmitting light rays through the handle, registration meansfor indicating the dierent sequence of circuit establishing positions ofthe rotor and means for conducting energy to the light device onlyduring the loading of the switch.

4. In a multi-position switch, an insulated housing provided withdividing wall structure having a series of arcing contacts and a seriesof non-arcing contacts arranged in different planes on opposite sides ofthesaid wall, a rotor member rotatably mounted between the contacts inthe different planes having fixed contacts thereon movable into and outof engagement with the non-arcing contacts to establish different loadcircuits through the switch, a handle for operating the rotor and meanscarried by the rotor for causing the arcing contacts to be actuatedsubsequent to the engagement of the non-arcing contacts and for causingthe arcing contacts to be actuated prior to the disengagement of thenonarcing contacts.

5.V In a multi-position switch, an insulated housing provided with wallstructure dividing the housing into separate compartments, a series offixed non-arcing contacts arranged in diierent planesin one of the saidcompartments and a series of arcing contacts arranged in saidcompartment, an insulated rotor member rotatably mounted in the housing,a series of contacts arranged in different planes carried by the rotormember selectively movable into and out of engagement with the fixednon-arcing contacts for establishing diierent load means for connectingthe non-arcing and arcing contacts with a source of energy and meanscarried by the rotor. for actuating the arcing contacts subsequent andprior to contact engagement of the non-arcing contacts.

6. In a multi-position switch, an insulated housing provided withclosure cover means and a dividing wall dividing the housing intoseparate compartments,` a series of non-arcing contacts arranged indiierent planes in one compartment,

Y a, series of arcing contacts arranged in the other compartment, aninsulated rotor member extending through the wall structure androtatable within' the compartments, aseries of contacts carried by therotor selectively movable into and out of circuit establishing contactwith the nonarcing contacts for establishing different load circuits.registration means for indicating the circuits, terminal t relativeposition of the rotor in different load positions comprising a pair ofslidably movable bar members and means carried by the rotor for engagingthe lbar members to determine the registrative movement of the rotor,and means for actuating the arcing contacts subsequent and prior toengagement of the non-arcing contacts individually and simultaneously.

7. In a multi-position switch having electrical connection with a threewire supply circuit and a series of load devices, a movable deviceprovided with selectively arranged contacts in different planes movablein diierent rotatable directions into and out of engagement with aseries of xed contacts in diilerent planes to open and close selectedcircuits with the load devices in which at least one pair of thecontacts are non-arcing contacts and at least one pair of the contactsare arcing contacts and in which the non-arcing contacts effect contactengagement prior to the arcing contacts and the arcing contacts becomedeenergized prior to the non-arcing contacts when the circuit is openedand a light device carried by the movable member energizable only duringthe energizing of the load devices.

8. In a multi-position multi-pole switch, an insulated support, a seriesof spaced contacts including at least one pair of arcing contactsmounted in the support and arranged in diierent planes, a rotor memberprovided with a series of spaced contacts in different planes movable todifferent positions to open and close a series of diierent load circuitsto effect multi-pole switching and in which the circuit is closed by thearcing contacts subsequent to contact engagement of the non-arcingcontacts and the circuit is opened by the arcing ycontacts prior to thedisengagement of the non-arcing contacts to eliminate arcing at thenon-arcing contacts and alight device carried by the movable memberadapted to be energized only during the closed position of the switch indifferent load positions.

9. In a multi-position switch, an insulated rotor member comprising acenter post provided with a light receiving socket and a communicatingcenter bore, the said socket and center bore being adapted to receive alight medium and conductor leads, an insulating disc carried by therotor having a series of spaced contacts arranged in different planes onopposite sides thereof., a series of fixed contacts arranged indifferent planes engageable by the rotor contacts to independentlyclosedifferent load circuits and to conduct venergy to the light mediumYonly during circuit loading, means carried by the rotor for actuatingthe arcing contacts subsequent and prior to contact engagement with thenon-arcing contacts, registrative means for determining the rotativemovement of the rotor for closing predetermined load circuits, andterminal means for connecting the contacts with a source of energy.

` JAMES F. BEAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,297,349 Douglas Sept.- 29, 19422,307,633 Mixer 'Jan. 51943 2,331,191v Hodgkins Oct. 5, 1943 2,354,750Hall Aug. 1, 1944

